No case was recorded for Malaria in the week 35/2016 (29/08 to 04/09) by the system of epidemiological surveillance of the Greek CDC (HCDCP,KEELPNO), in points of care for
refugees/migrants in 46 centres hosting refugees/migrants that have been under surveillance out of a total of 50
centres

On the photo Sophia Vergara with long shirt on the beach, almost swimming with it!!! Even though mosquitoes don't like to be at the sea, Vergara knew How Fashion in Greece should be health wise, Right. To Protect from sun And mosquiots..

Go long, these days in Greece, it;s Fashionable

Greek CDC to Travelers

Advice for Travelers and Malaria in Greece

The HCDCP, based on the surveillance data available until now and the implemented prevention measures
in the areas where locally-acquired P.vivax malaria cases have been reported, maintains that the risk to
travelers for malaria infection in Greece is very low. Chemoprophylaxis for malaria is not recommended
for visitors to areas where locally acquired malaria cases have occurred until today. Personal protective
measures against mosquitoes are encouraged.

Pregnant women to be protected

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

.﻿ In the case of Zika, because infection in a pregnant woman is linked to serious birth defects and miscarriage, CDC recommends that pregnant women not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks.

﻿

Rapid Test Diagnostics via cell

Microbiologist Blaine Mathison, one of two scientists who perform telediagnosis at the CDC, says he can even analyze an image of a blood smear straight off his BlackBerry. "I remember once, done diagnostics while watching a ballgame.",

Our Newsblogs on social media

Malaria hits back

The Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Greek CDC, KEELPNO) calmed down at the end of August worries about malaria new transmissions occurrence in the country, that peaked near the hot spot areas and in the Northern Aegean islands. Τhe new cases were detected near the hot spot areas and in the Northern Aegean islands, ΑΝΔ in large percentage in migrants and refugees

The National Center for Blood Donation set on blood donations quarantine for more than one year , 12 districts around Greece

O new cases of Malaria have been detected in the recent epidemiological surveillance that is conducted by KEELPNO in the accommodation centers and hot spots, nor has a malaria positive case been reported since the 24th of July Find out on original report

“There is absolutely no reason to have concerns over the possibility of a malaria outbreak,” the Secretary general of the Health Ministry Yiannis Baskozos said in an interview with the Athens – Macedonian News Agency on Tuesday. “There is not a proven outbreak, which has started from a refugee or a migrant,” adding that the state is taking action, monitoring the situation, and according to the latest updates, there is no reason for concern.

The KE.EL.P.NO.(Greek CDC), stresses that Greece is a safe place, with a negligible risk of malaria, while international public health organizations estimate that any special precaution is not required from those visiting our country .

Greek CDC(HCDCP, KEELPNO) Press release, August 22,2016

“Drastic measures have to be taken to avert this strain from taking hold within the domestic population. The screening of migrants must also intensify.”

Athanassios Tsakris, professor of microbiology at the University of Athens, August 23, 2016

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, or along river banks but the kind of water they prefer is warm, shallow, and still, like the kind of water that can be found in gutters, in flower pots, unused kids pools etc.

Be Cautious with the rain!

After the rains and the flooding in several areas of Greece in the first week of September, mosquitoes’ eggs are probably hatching more than any time of the year. Keep precaution measures!

Caution! There are all the "bad" mosquitoes in Greece

Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, and Zika, and dengue and yellow fever transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti.. West Nile Virus s transmitted by the Culex , Anopheles and Aedes . We have all of them in Greece

Malaria, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes bite mainly from dusk to dawn.

Malaria in Greece by the CDCs

The CDC does not recommend antimalarial drugs for travel to Greece at this time. Travelers to these two affected areas of Greece should use mosquito avoidance measures, such as insect repellant and sleeping in either an air conditioned or well-screened setting or under a treated bed-net, to prevent malaria infection.

The Hellenic CDC continues to work with the European CDC and has responded by enhancing its surveillance systems for malaria cases and malaria vectors. In current- and previously affected- areas, mosquito control has been intensified, healthcare providers educated about early malaria diagnosis and treatment, and the public has been informed about the symptoms of malaria and the prevention of mosquito bites. ,CDC, Malaria in Greece

The issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) of the period 14 to 20 August 2016 and includes updates on malaria in Greece, as well as Zika virus, WNV and influenza A(H7N9).

Malaria in Greece

On 12 August 2016, two cases of malaria were diagnosed in the Aghios Vasileios community in Thessaloniki. Response measures are ongoing. Two previous possible locally acquired cases have been reported in the region of West Greece in 2016.

The risk for travellers is considered to be low. The use of standard mosquito biting prevention measures continues to be recommended. More so, ECDC’s conclusions from its previous Rapid Risk Assessment on malaria, October 2011, are still valid.

The Late August 2016 Public Health Crisis

KEELPNO primer Guildeline for travelers

The always to follow Guideline to keep you safe in Greece, is 1. Sun Screen in the Day

2.Mosquito repellent

on Day AND Night

President of Greek CDC (HCDCP, KEELPNO)

"No reason to worry, fears are exagerated"

"4 sporadically domestic transmission cases this season to date do not justify the extended media focus on the subject.", said on air the New President of Greek CDC Theofilos Rosenberg, written as well in the Press Release of the organization, KEELPNO

The extraordinary Press Relase by the Greek CDC, August 22

"Malaria transmission by domestic indications meaning that patients are presumed to be infected in Greece, systematically appear in the country since 2009", underlined the Greek CDC Press Release after the announcements for the blood donations quarantine that were made by the National Blood Donation Agency.

The diagram, though, of Malaria domestic cases appearance in Greece shows a rise from 0 to 6, last year on domestic infections, which coincides with the refugees influx in the countryDomestic Malaria infections in Greece reached a peak between 2009 and 2011, and had been successfully diminished by the National Malaria Action Plan of the Greek CDC gradually year by year, till cases were brought down to 0 in the year 2014.

To tackle malaria, the Greek CDC Press Release continues, the Ministry of Health has developed a National Action Plan with the participation of the other Authorities in charge in Greece, which is continued with the cooperation of other Authoritis in Charge

A fatal budget cut

"The mosquito control programs, which are important but not the ne and only protection measure (for Malaria elimination), are under the responsibility of the Regional and Municipal authorities",

the Press Release on Aug 22, 2016, underlined, though avoiding to give exact data on how , really , systematically , the air spraying on the affected areas has been, or has not been done at all .

Officially no data has been presented by the government for any air spraying despite the blood donations ban

Many municipal spraying protocols for the

disinsectisation of the infected populations of

mosquitoes which carry not only Malaria, but also for WNV, ZIKA , and Malaria Disease, were curtailed because of budget
cuts.

The Greek CDC does have the authority to assess, forecast and prevent the spread of infectious and communicable diseases, as it is for Malaria elimination and the new transmissions prevention, even by putting pressure on the stakeholders, or other authorities in charge, to better coordinate the operations fro the realization of the National Action Plans The Hellenic Center of Disease Control and Prevention has the authority to formally notice to the municipalities for the urgency to complete air spraying on time , as was successfully done in the previous years resulting in bringing numbers down to 0 from 2011 to 2014.

The Risk forecast by the Greek CDC surveillance, inspection and assessment

Among other features this earlier Recommendation of the Greek CDC was stating that "particularly in areas that receive or host migrants-refugees, systematic mosquito control programs must be implemented, and their intensification must become a high priority as a response to the public health threats related to diseases transmitted by transmitters".

From Peloponnese to Thessaloniki the districts affected

Twelve districts of Greece have
banned blood donations because of malaria, with four cases that have been contracted this year so far, and domestically The
12 districts affected are Farkadona, Trikala, Palamas, Tempe, Achaean
and Thebes (central Greece); Evrotas and Andravida-Kyllini
(Peloponnesus); Chalcis (Euboea); Marathon (Attica); and Lagada and
Pylaia (Thessaloniki region).By the ban residents employees and visitors in Greece, in 12 areas of the country's municipalities. are temporary excluded from any blood donations

The Ellinikon Alert

The Greek CDC (KE.EL.P.NO. recommends immediate commencement of work until the full restoration of

failures, and asks for the need to cover the sanitary needs of the refugees and migrants populations in the Ellinkon hot spot, with a sufficient number of Hygiene facilities (toilets, showers, sinks). Non implementation to the KEELPNO autopsy conclusions and recommendations

would pose a serious risk to public health in Greece.

Additionally for this reason the KEELPNO, Greek CDC mobile units have distributed flyers and information for the migrants and refugee populations for Basic Hygiene Recommendations more

HCDCP in its March document draws attention to the local population (Alimos, Glyfada, Greek-Argyroupoli) for possible transmission of dangerous diseases (malaria, Dengue virus, Zika, chikungunya disease) and calls for Awareness among citizens

The HCDCP being consistent in its mission to protect public health, releases a Warning for the spread of communicable diseases, especially from this time of the year and on... find it

Refugees , migrants already spread in the communities

Greek islands.

.The authorities on the islands, and especially in Lesvos

allow asylum seekers to go in and out if they have been detained for more than 25 days due to the recent law adopted by the Greek Parliamenton April 2, blanket “restriction of movement” on new arrivals inside closed facilities at border entry points – such as the islands – for up to 25 days during reception and identification . The paradigm again is Lesvos, the island of "Solidarity", which silently follows its fate this year , and unquestionably 'absorbs" the migrants and refugees that are allowed to move in the islands. You see them more and more often in the market, the cafeterias, at the beach , in the souvlaki shops, the squares, in the islands' streeets. Still, locals from the countryside, near the accommodation centers complaint for their domestic farms, where from the migrants, as they say, steal their chicken, goats, turkeys and ...even peacocks. Some laughter the animals in the farm. The vast majority of asylum seekers are unable to leave the islands. Greek2m, August 2016

Remember with malaria

a single bite might be fatal

A single bite from the high-pitched whining insects is all it can take to become infected.

Are the migrant and refugees population to blame?

No, definely, refugees do not pose danger for malaria

Theofilos Rosenberg, President of the Greek CDC, (KEELPNO, HCDCP) live, on skai tv, August 22, 2016

According to the official data, announced on August 22, by the Greek CDC, 65 cases
of malariahad been detected in Greece this year as of mid-August,
compared to85 for the whole of last year:

A Vintage Campaign 75 years old

Best tip in century

HOW MUCH IS THE TRAVELER AT RISK?

Travel& InfectionsTravelers pick up resistant bugs from places they visit in less than 48h

"..One traveller who visited South Korea, as well as another who visited India, picked up CTX-M genes,
which make an enzyme called ESBL that can destroy penicillin,
cephalosporins and related antibiotics. The percentage of people in
South-East Asia who carry these genes has risen from two to 70 per cent
over the past decade." more, go to source

REFUGEES AND TOURISM

The Damaged Greece

Eastern Aegean islands, and primarily Lesvos ,has lost seven in 10 of last year’s tourists.

Air passenger arrivals in June 2016 dropped for a decline of 67.89 percent .The drop in arrivals was attributed directly to the migration crisis

Kountoura: World Still Has Confidence in Greece

Refugee crisis affects theimage of Greece as a destination

SETE on Travel Survey

“I have been working closely with all tourism authorities and
associations to ensure Greece continues to offer the highest quality of
tourism services to its visitors.

We have daily updates here at the Ministry for Tourism, and we
are all working 24/7 to provide solutions to any problems that may
arise, with our first priority being to ensure that all visitors have a
lovely holiday experience in Greece.

.

Welcome to Greece and thank you very much! “

In her message, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura invites visitors to contact the Tourism Ministry’s new special team which has been launched to address any possible problems related to tourism..

Greek to me ! is a Social Responsibility Communication network for Traveler's Health Safety in Greece, sharing 24/7 updated information for Public Health Emergencies in Greece, PH Safety and Preparedness information for Greece, concerning threats or critical conditions the traveler's health safety

might face, after a ten decade of Greece's theree major crisis: austerity, refugee and latest, the pandemic crisis.

Traveler's Health Recommendations and Guidelines are provided by the commitment of the greek2m team, to journalistic accuracy and credibility on scientific updated evidence based medical information, under the auspices and the approval of the Greek Center of Disease Control, the Hellenic CDC (HCDP)